Archive for June, 2009
If you’re new to the RC world, it’s very common for people to get excited about purchasing their various vehicles only to forget the necessary accessories. But without these accessories, many people find that they can only operate the RC product for a few hours. And then, after that, they simply have to wait until they purchase those necessary accessories to start playing again.
One such accessory is the charger for your RC battery. Without RC chargers, people will only be able to get one full charge out of their batteries. And this can be very disappointing, especially if you’re purchasing the item for a child. For this reason, if you’re giving RC vehicles as a gift, make sure they are accompanied by the charger. In this way, their fun doesn’t have to be interrupted.
AN ESC is used on some but not all RC electric vehicles. Its job is to regulate the amount of power that goes to the electric motor. This unit can come as a separate part and plugged into the receiver or it may come as a part of your receiver. ESC = electronic speed controller. The ESC interprets signals from the receiver and provides different motor speeds and directions, some act as a braking mechanism. Electronic speed controls are available for both brushed and brushless motors.
I Purchased a Venom™ 120 amp Pro Brushless ESC for versatility, since it is compatible with all sensored and sensorless brushless 540 motors as well as all 540 brushed motors. This is an all encompassing Electronic Speed Control that includes the programming card that allows you to adjust eleven individual parameters including Forward/Brake, Forward/Reverse, Drag, Initial and Maximum Brake Force, Low Voltage Cut-Off, Start Mode, Maximum Reverse Force, Throttle Neutral Range, Motor Timing, Motor Type and Over-Heat Protection. A great feature is the high efficiency cooling system that includes an aluminum heat sink and cooling fan that keeps your operating temperatures in check! Its pre wired with 14 gauge wire to ensure minimal power loss and is very compact at 44mm x 31mm. This made the Venom™ 120 amp Pro Brushless ESC a perfect choice for my on and off-road applications. Check it out if you are looking for a great ESC.
Here are some things to consider before you purchase an ESC.
- Will the ESC be used for a brushed or brushless motor?
- Is the current rating higher than what your motor can pull? Watch this one to avoid overheating your motor.
- What is the voltage rating? It should be at least equal to or higher than the voltage of your battery.
- Some electronic speed controllers have a low voltage cutoff that prevents damage to your battery pack by shutting down the ESC when the battery voltage drops too low.
RC Batteries can last a long time if you give them proper care! The important tool to have close by is a RC Battery Charger. They have been proven to be cost effective and in this economic climate, saving money is a good thing. Here are some tips for your RC battery or RC battery packs.
Always unplug the battery and leave it in the RC for later use. With my kids toy grade RC’s I just pulled out one battery just to break the circuit. Having your on/off switch in the off position can drain your battery slowly. The Circuits involved in steering and throttle are still using current from the battery! Not much but enough to drain your battery over time. Take the time and unplug the battery. You can leave it in the RC for later use. Another consideration is how often you use the RC. Probably a lot less than you use your cell phone! Batteries left in your RC can corrode causing more problems than just dead batteries. If you’re not planning on using you’re RC for a long period of time, take the batteries out completely. Hopefully, its not one with a bunch of tiny little screws on the battery compartment but if so, it is worth it!
If you are dreaming of RC nitro Cars, here are a few tips to get you going. First of all for beginners, RC nitro powered cars or trucks can be built or purchased (RTR) Ready to Run and are simple to use. If you build it yourself, the kit comes unassembled and you are in for a rewarding experience when you put the time in to build your RC nitro car and take it to the track or off road. Oh yes, what a feeling! All the parts you will need are usually in the kit but sometimes you will need tools that are usually not kept around the house. You may need to purchase some equipment separately, such as nitro gas, radio, nitro engine, motor, and other equipment for your nitro car. If you are a beginner, I seriously recommend starting with the ready to run kit. You will be spared the headaches of assembly. You can enjoy the immediate feeling of a surge of power to go along with the adrenaline release that comes with your cars awesome power. I get pleasure from assembling my own cars and find it to be a rewarding past time.
You can find Nitro RC cars in two categories – off-road and on-road vehicles. Off-road vehicles are designed to master rough and tough terrains. They can jump at high speed and land back on the ground raring to go. If you want a combination of power, speed, durability and performance RC nitro off-road vehicles are in. On-road nitro RC cars are designed to race on the streets, race tracks and prepared surfaces. Hot and fast, they can make your day. Your choice, your pleasure!
Megatech’s Horse-Fly RC Helicopter is one easy to fly Co-Axial RC helicopter. My first RC helicopter was a Megatech Horse-Fly and I can tell you it was easy to master compared to the more advanced models I fly now. Co-Axial RC helicopters are great for beginners who are just getting started with this RC hobby. Just think, being able to hover on your first few attempts. That is control. Well, it worked for me and gave me the confidence I needed to move on to the more advanced models I fly now.
This is a great looking RC Helicopter with a main rotor span of 18 inches making it very stable. With its twin rotors you get a flying machine with torque, making it a great RC Helicopter to fly outdoors where you take more risk! The 7.4V-2-Cell lithium-polymer motor battery pack offers great flight time for learning. If you are looking for realism in a semi-scale RC Helicopter Then check this one out. Comes RTF, the only way to go for newbie’s with a great training manual and instructional DVD. Can’t think of a better way to begin a successful RC helicopter journey!
There are times that I sit down and contemplate my love for RC hobbies, especially RC nitro trucks. Oh yea, I really enjoy RC, airplanes, cars, boats, buggies and helicopters but this RC junkie can’t do without the madding power and control that comes with a RC nitro truck. Speeding, bumping, crawling, jumping, sliding, mudding, and crashing. All of these extremes make my blood flow and captures my imagination.
What is the downside you might ask? Well, I must say that my wife often complains about the budget overruns for an RC something or another. New something every year she cries! And those crashes can dampen your spirits and contribute to your problem. Maintenance of my RC nitro truck is a time consuming labor of love. For me, it’s the only way to protect my investment. It however, takes time and some skill if you want to excel. Finding a track or good place to run your RC nitro truck can sometimes be frustrating, but they are there if you want the rush! Had enough yet? If not you are a RC junkie or soon to be one. Welcome to the club!
An electric RC Buggy is the right choice for beginners. These RC tough guys are easy to build, and they are capable of wild adventures on-road or off-road. They can take the abuse of jumping ramps and driving mishaps.
You can buy the quiet, and easy to maintain 1/10 scale remote control electric buggy with potential speeds of 30+ miles per hour.
A popular model and alternative to the more expensive choices is the Traxxas Bandit RC Buggy. This tough guy comes with w fully independent suspension, a fiber-composite double deck chassis, 48-pitch gears, and adjustable oil-filled shocks. Completely race ready with ball bearings and slipper clutch with a transmission that gives you everything required to handle high torque motors. To customize your Bandit you can add ball bearings to its bell crank steering, and there are more upgrades to fully customize your daemon. Ops, don’t want to forget the pistol grip radio and a 20 turn modified Stinger motor. Looking for a steal, high jack the Traxxas Bandit RC Buggy!
A few weeks ago I finally watched “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” on DVD and I thought, “Hey, why aren’t there RC cars that drift?” For those of you who aren’t familiar, drifting is a type of racing that’s popular in Japan and is considered as such because the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while preserving vehicle control and a high exit speed.
It’s recently made its way to the States over the last four years and while I don’t think I have the ability to successfully drift, I found some great RC drift cars online that allow me to fulfill this fantasy.
A few days ago, I had the opportunity to test fly the Venom Night Ranger3D XL RC Helicopter. My best friend had purchased this jewel and wanted my opinion. Well I can tell you this is a wonderful flying machine. I was amazed at the handling of the Night Ranger, very crisp with lots of power from the stock motor and battery. The Tail rotor response was very good. Venom appears to be using some revo mixing with the tail rotor because it does not swing like other RC Helicopters that I have flown. The tail holds very well which I really appreciated.
This RC helicopter uses the new V-Series™ 20L Brushless Motor along with a 20amp Brushless ESC and Belt Driven Tail Rotor. It is very responsive and very quick on the cyclic and the collective. You really have to be ready in the hover I noted at least until you get more experience. If you are just starting out with flying a RC Helicopter then the Venom Night Ranger 3D XL RC may be a bit advanced for you, however if you are an intermediate to advanced pilot then this may be the perfect choice.